Forwarder - the nuances of the profession. Forwarder - the nuances of the profession What is the work of a forwarder

At first glance it seems like a simple task. In essence, that part of it, which consists in the actual transportation of goods to the destination, is really structurally simple. But, in addition to this, there is also a logistics component, covering a whole range of different tasks that may not have anything to do with transportation, but without which the process of cargo delivery would be impossible or extremely difficult. These tasks are solved by forwarders - full participants in the transport chain.

Translated from Latin, the word "expedire" means "accompanying", which quite accurately and succinctly indicates the essence of this profession. Well, to put it in a business language, then a forwarder can be called a legal entity that, for a certain fee, controls and performs all the tasks associated with this process, including forwarding, cargo insurance, storage or transshipment. The customer of the work can be both the consignor and the consignee.

The concepts of "carrier" and "forwarder" should not be confused - the forwarding company in most cases does not have its own fleet of vehicles and leases rolling stock from companies specializing in cargo transportation to perform transportation operations. In principle, if we compare a forwarding company with a transport company, then one of the main differences will be the degree of responsibility. The carrier is responsible only for the delivery of cargo within its section of the route, while the forwarder is responsible for the delivery of a consignment of goods in accordance with the “door-to-door” principle, that is, at all stages of the movement of cargo.

The formation of a supply chain is a rather difficult task: it is no coincidence that in applied mathematics there is a corresponding discipline involved in the development of optimal routes. In this regard, it is more difficult for a freight forwarder, since optimality in this case implies not only a decrease in the total mileage, which is important in itself, but also taking into account factors affecting the safety of the route, creating comfortable conditions for the driver, reducing downtime, etc. In addition, it is on the shoulders of the freight forwarder that the choice of optimal technologies and . He is also responsible for the maximum load of the vehicle, his duties include many other tasks.

Currently, according to reports from independent research companies, in the field of international transportation forwarding companies control approximately 75-80% of the market. A large forwarding company has the ability to optimize freight traffic, eliminating such negative aspects as large accumulations of goods in large transport hubs, reducing the cost of freight transportation due to the redistribution of traffic flows between different modes of transport, taking into account seasonal features that affect the tariff component.

Since recently multimodal cargo transportation, involving the use of various vehicles, has become increasingly important, the tasks associated with the transshipment of goods and their customs clearance come to the fore. All of them are also carried out by a forwarding company, which must comply with the terms established in the contract and be able to navigate the time features of the movement of goods by different modes of transport. Part of the duties of the profession is indicated in the job description (JD) of a freight forwarder for the transportation (transportation) of goods, but it should be noted that this document does not have an approved form, and a standard instruction is presented on the network, which may be amended and supplemented.

Qualification Requirements

As stated in the JI, a freight forwarder must have a primary vocational/secondary education with specific training in this profession, and there is no requirement for work experience. If you refer to the Directory of Professions (section of qualification characteristics), then the transport forwarder must have a basic (secondary vocational / incomplete higher) education in the specialty "logistics" or "transportation". The profession involves knowledge of office work at a basic level, possession of the skills of processing correspondence, regardless of the methods of receiving it. The freight forwarder needs to know and remember the addresses of permanent correspondents, his duties include studying the structure of the forwarding company.

However, in practice, employers are not guided by the presence of a diploma, but by the specific skills of the applicant regarding the knowledge of a particular city, driving experience, the ability to plan the route of the transported goods, and the ability to maintain vehicles. In more accessible terms, the forwarder can be called a navigator who sits in the car to the right of the driver, performing purely navigator duties related to escorting the goods and drawing up the optimal route. However, the presence of a solid driving experience has recently become a significant advantage - a freight forwarder who can, if necessary, be a driver is much more appreciated.

As for international transportation, here the qualification requirements are much higher - you cannot do without the education of the relevant direction and training at the bachelor's level. An international forwarder is obliged to study the basics of customs law, know the basic provisions of insurance activities, have professional skills in working with documents, know and be able to put into practice the basics of transport logistics. However, the possession of logistics skills will be useful in the case of work on domestic routes, although large forwarding companies usually have logistics specialists on their staff. Relevant education can be obtained both in higher educational institutions specializing in transport, and by attending training programs, trainings and seminars that address issues related to logistics topics.

While studying full-time, future forwarders study jurisprudence at the basic level, the basics of the legislation of the Russian Federation (civil, transport, labor), but special attention is paid to the study of the rules and regulations relating to the actual cargo transportation, state regulation of economic activities on vehicles, methods and methods of organizing cargo transportation. Much attention is paid to familiarization with the transport system of large cities.

Attending seminars allows you to keep abreast of the latest innovations in the field of forwarding, make the necessary connections for work, gain practical skills in organizing work related to freight forwarding.

General provisions

Freight forwarder - a position belonging to the category of employees in the field of technical performers. Employment in a forwarding company is carried out by order of the head, he also has the right to dismiss the employee. The forwarder in his daily activities is guided by the following documents:

• labor regulations approved by the administration of the forwarding company;
• regulatory documents relating to forwarding activities;
• charter of the forwarding company;
• relevant methodological instructions/guidelines;
• orders/instructions of the authorities (immediate supervisor, as well as the head of the company);
• job description of the transport forwarder.

The freight forwarder must be professionally versed in the following issues:

• the order of acceptance/delivery of transported goods;
• organization and control over the implementation of loading / unloading activities;
• conditions for storage, transshipment or transportation of forwarded goods;
• downtime standards when performing loading and unloading operations for all types of vehicles;
• the basics of labor organization, including relevant legislation;

The forwarder must:

• know the addresses and details of the main suppliers that are the company's customers, as well as the addresses of the main warehouses of customers;
• know the main routes of cargo transportation;
• adhere to the internal regulations of the forwarding company;
• to know perfectly, used in the clearance of goods;
• know the norms and rules of OT / fire safety.

The duties of a transport forwarder in the absence of a full-time employee are assigned to a deputy appointed by the administration of the forwarding company. It is he who is responsible for failure to fulfill the regular duties of a transport forwarder, including liability for delay in delivery of cargo, its damage or theft.

According to the DI approved by the forwarding company, the duties of the transport forwarder include the following functions:

• acceptance of goods from the consignor's warehouses, reconciliation of quantitative indicators with invoices and accompanying documents;
• control over the proper sanitary condition of vehicles used for cargo transportation;
• checking the integrity of the goods, drawing up an act in case of detection of such violations;
• checking the availability of rigging tools and devices that ensure the safe transportation of goods;
• control over the correctness and observance of safety measures when performing loading and unloading operations, when laying goods on a vehicle;
• accompanying the transported goods throughout the route to the final destination, ensuring its safety during transportation;
• ensuring the proper mode of storage of goods during stops, transshipment of cargo, while waiting for unloading;
• delivery of the delivered goods to the consignee, registration of acceptance certificates;
• if a shortage or damage to a part of the delivered goods is detected - participation in the preparation / execution of the relevant acts;
• participation in the organization of conditions that ensure the accident-free delivery of goods, if necessary - the elimination of the consequences of traffic accidents involving vehicles engaged in cargo transportation under an agreement with a forwarding company. If there are victims in an accident, taking measures to provide emergency medical care, calling representatives of the traffic police, emergency services, ambulances;
• assisting the customer in ensuring the most comfortable and safe working conditions for drivers, immediately informing the management about cases of violations of labor discipline, in the event of industrial injuries, in case of illness of participants in cargo transportation, in the event of or threat of emergency situations that potentially or actually threaten the health of participants in cargo transportation .

In addition, the concept of forwarding involves the participation of representatives of the forwarding company in the preparation of all documents required to ensure the organization of cargo transportation, including warehouse, customs / tax, insurance, transport documentation, as well as documents required for reloading, transportation, transshipment, carrying out loading and unloading activities. .

Since the main task of the forwarder is the timely delivery of goods without loss to the destination determined in accordance with the established route, the scope of regular duties of this profession may include other services provided to the employer:

• analysis of the customer's application in terms of determining the best conditions for the transportation of goods;
• provision of consulting/information services;
• customs clearance of a consignment of goods;
• assistance during the passage of phytosanitary (quarantine) control in the case of transportation of the relevant goods;
• assistance in resolving issues related to fiscal authorities;
• cargo declaration;
• development of the optimal route and scheme for the use of delivery vehicles for the fastest delivery of the transported goods to their destination;
• determining the timing of transportation;
• resolving issues related to insurance of a part or the entire consignment of goods;
• implementation of measures for information support of cargo transportation;
• formation of conditions, payment procedure and tariff rates;
• assistance in warehousing of goods.

The provision of advisory services involves the provision of assistance to customers in solving such strategically important issues as minimizing customs and tax payments, reducing other transportation costs

In addition to duties, a freight forwarder also has a significant package of rights, including the following features:

• familiarization with the draft decisions of the administration and management of the company regarding any aspects of its activities;
• submission for consideration by the competent structures of the forwarding company of proposals regarding the improvement and optimization of work related to the performance by the employee of regular job duties (DO);
• timely receipt in full of documents, data and information required in the framework of the implementation of forwarding subsidiaries from the heads of departments, divisions and specialized specialists;
• involvement in the work within the framework of the forwarding duties of specialists from departments and divisions of the company (if this is within the competence of a specialist within the framework of the current regulations and documents on the structural divisions of the forwarding company, if not, with the preparation of a written application with the permission of the head of the company);
• requirement from the administration and management of the company to take measures to assist the forwarder in the framework of the implementation of the job descriptions of the driver-forwarder for the transportation (transportation) of goods;
• taking part in all events related to decision-making in the field of labor protection (including conferences, meetings and meetings of the labor collective organized by trade union organizations or representatives of the Labor Code).

As a responsible person within its competence, the freight forwarder is responsible for:

• for non-fulfillment of regular duties formed in the DI (within the framework of the current Labor Code of the Russian Federation);
• for any offenses committed in the process of fulfilling forwarding duties (within the framework of the regulations defined in the civil/administrative, transport or criminal legislation of the Russian Federation);
• for non-compliance (observance in an improper manner) with the requirements and standards for fire safety, safety, labor protection, industrial sanitation (within the framework of the current legal / regulatory acts of the Russian Federation);
• for causing material damage to the customer of the services or the forwarding company (within the framework of the regulations defined in the civil, administrative or criminal legislation of the Russian Federation).

Control and assessment of the work of a transport forwarder is performed by the immediate supervisor of the employee (in his absence, an official authorized by the administration of the forwarding company).

Details Updated: 03.11.2019 15:48 Published: 08.05.2017 18:38

Forwarder is a specialist who delivers goods and cargo between objects.

History of the profession

Translated from the Latin "expeditio" sounds like "readiness". The emergence of this profession was facilitated by the need for frequent transportation of goods between objects, as well as by specialists who were directly responsible for the entire transportation process.

Mentions of people who accompanied merchant caravans and for a certain fee were responsible for the safety of goods throughout the journey are found in records dated to the 11th-12th centuries. Historians managed to find documents that testify to what originally arose as a result of the development of foreign trade. In the XV-XVI centuries, entire expeditionary organizations appeared, which were responsible for the timely arrival of goods at their destination.

Features of the profession

Work as a freight forwarder has 2 key areas. The activity of the internal forwarding agent of the company is connected only with the delivery of products to customers. More difficult is the work in the field of international transportation.

In certain cases, the specialist is personally at the wheel of the vehicle transporting the goods. Applicants for the position of forwarding driver are required to have a driver's license category "B" or higher.

Profession forwarder has its own merits and demerits. The advantages are the minimum requirements for applicants and the novelty of the tasks. The work of freight forwarders who are engaged in international cargo transportation is well paid.

The main disadvantage is liability. In case of errors in the accompanying documentation, which led to the loss of the cargo, the specialist has to compensate for the shortage on his own.

The freight forwarder will be held criminally liable if the fact of intentional falsification of documents with the aim of stealing the cargo is proved.

Responsibilities

Forwarder is a specialist whose list of duties includes:

• Acceptance of cargo in the presence of the necessary documentation.
• Issuance of papers to the client, indicating the successful acceptance of the goods.
• Control over the safety of the entrusted cargo. If defects are found, the owner should be promptly notified.
• Checking the technical condition of the transport that will be involved in the transportation process.
• Personal presence during the work of loaders.
• Accompanying the cargo to the final destination.
• Maintenance of working documentation.
• Timely informing the client about the changes that occurred during transportation.

Important qualities

Required qualities that a forwarder must possess:

• responsible approach to the performance of duties;
• punctuality;
• good memory;
• accuracy;
• attentiveness;
• punctuality;
• stress tolerance;
• sociability.

Skills and knowledge

Forwarder is profession, which involves knowledge of the current tariffs and taxes on transportation.

The specialist must be well versed in the products entrusted to him.

It is necessary to know the terms of storage of goods and the optimal conditions for their transportation. At the same time, one must be able to navigate the terrain well if the points of departure and reception are located in the same city. Activities in the field of international transportation require knowledge of a foreign language.

Despite the fact that job vacancies for the position are not full of special education requirements, not everyone can cope with this job. Instead of a university diploma, rather specific skills and abilities will be needed here. For example, remember new routes, quickly determine the shortest route, control unloading and loading, and even weigh or count goods. And if for "internal" freight forwarders (carrying out the movement of goods within the city, region or country) this may be quite enough, then an international specialist traveling outside the state border cannot do without more serious training.

In place of the navigator

If we talk about "internal" freight forwarders, then, according to the Directory of Qualification Characteristics of Professions, it is enough for such workers to have a basic or incomplete higher education in the relevant field of training ("transport" or "logistics"). Know the basics of office work, ways and methods of processing correspondence, addresses of permanent correspondents, the structure of the enterprise and its divisions. Employers often ignore diplomas in favor of management and maintenance skills, city knowledge and driving experience. By the way, about the driver's "crusts". In principle, the forwarder assumes only "navigator" duties, accompanying the cargo and planning the best routes of movement, so his workplace is to the right of. But recently there has been a growing demand for forwarding drivers with solid driving experience.

It is impossible to work as a freight forwarder without knowing the city and the main outlets. In addition, you need to know absolutely the entire range of goods being transported, the timing of its implementation and quality, the current markings and bar codes. Remember the working hours of each outlet and the time of receipt of products. If you don’t have time, serious problems can arise, especially if you are dealing with food. There is an unspoken rule: perishable sausages, dairy, meat and fish products are accepted first, but, for example, bulk products are strictly in order of priority. And about 150 cars from different suppliers arrive in super- and megamarkets every day, and everyone strives to hand over their goods faster! The freight forwarder must be able to fill in invoices and other documentation on the turnover. It is not so difficult to learn this, the main thing is to remember and bring to automatism the sequence of affixing the necessary stamps, seals and signatures.

But the work of a freight forwarder is not just mechanical: one cannot do without the ability to communicate with people, to show flexibility of character and non-standard thinking. Situations often arise that only real diplomats can find a way out of. Once a forwarder brought a batch of sausage to the store to order, but completely refused to accept it. What to do? It’s too late to return to the warehouse, and in the car the food would have spoiled overnight! No matter how hard he tried to persuade her to “shelter” the goods at least for the night, she did not agree to any. Then I decided to cheat, saying that otherwise I would buy this sausage (since it is very, very tasty!), And right now I will arrange an evening meal. Imagine: the ill-fated cargo immediately acquired new owners!

Destination

International freight forwarders who go on business trips abroad cannot do without ingenuity and diplomacy. Firstly, knowledge of the main transport routes will be required, and secondly, it will be difficult without knowledge of a foreign language. Thirdly, a solid driving experience will come in handy, because often a freight carrier (forwarding agent and driver in one person) is taken to transport goods from one point of the globe to another, which assumes full responsibility for the safety of the cargo.

International freight transport is not an easy task. To send cargo from one country to another, you need to “calculate” the optimal mode of transport (depending on the characteristics and parameters of the cargo), take into account the rules, laws and traditions of different states, and make the most economically advantageous route. As a result, a whole logistics chain is formed, which only real professionals can competently compose. All these nuances should by no means worry the owner of the cargo, since the full responsibility for it falls on the shoulders of the carrier. Being a freight forwarder does not mean loading the cargo, getting into the car and forgetting about everything in the world. Remember: from now on you are responsible for the safety of both the transport and the transported goods! For international transportation, it is necessary to undergo special training, which includes a short course in customs law, insurance activities and skills in working with all necessary documents. And, of course, one cannot do without knowledge of the basics of transport logistics.

Of course, in the staff of each transport enterprise they work, which make up the optimal transportation routes. But knowledge of logistics at the highest level will not interfere with a professional forwarder. A "transport" diploma can be obtained, for example, at the National Transport University, whose students study the basics of jurisprudence, transport, civil, labor and criminal law, the rules for the transport of goods and passengers, state regulation of road transport. In addition, they learn to organize transportation and manage it, get acquainted with the transport system of cities. Seminars and trainings on logistics topics are effective, where you can get acquainted with the latest innovations in the industry, learn how to organize work efficiently and make the right connections.

It should be noted that the training and formation of professional personnel in the field of international freight forwarding activities is one of the main activities of the Association of International Freight Forwarders of Ukraine (IMEU). Today it is so far the only organization that provides professional training in the field of international freight forwarding with the issuance of a diploma of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA). The curriculum is drawn up in accordance with international requirements for this profession and includes the minimum standards of requirements for international freight forwarders in the carriage of goods by all possible modes of transport.

Course participants get acquainted with the legal aspects of the activity of an international freight forwarder, the organization of the activities of Ukrainian freight forwarding companies in the global transport market, documents and forms of the FIATA standard. They pay attention to financial requirements for forwarding activities, organization of warehousing and storage of goods. They also study the features of international transportation by different modes of transport: sea, air, road, rail and river. You can not do without knowledge of customs procedures and tariffs, the duties of the forwarder in relation to the customs service, various international conventions and agreements. A separate column is cargo and liability insurance of the parties. Well, how can one master the transport arteries of the world without knowing at least general knowledge of geography!? Those who successfully complete the training course and pass the exams receive a FIATA diploma confirming the professional competence of a freight forwarder in any of the 150 member states of the federation.

Cargo transportation has always been one of those tasks that were entrusted to be solved only by true professionals in their field. After all, production at a factory or a variety of assortment in a store depends on how raw materials or products are delivered on time, so logistics organizations are always made up of experienced employees who can correctly plan each delivery and find optimal conditions for it.

The transportation process itself is usually divided into two stages. The first stage is transportation, and the second stage allows you to cover all those various operations that are relevant to the process.

The last stage can vary significantly depending on what functions the cargo owners want to perform. But additional services may not be included in the work of the carrier. How to be? To ensure these tasks, a forwarder is used.

The term itself comes from the verb "expedire", which means to accompany. In the modern sense, a forwarder is a person who ensures the transportation of goods or the performance of additional operations stipulated by the contract.

The latter may include activities such as insurance, forwarding or storage under appropriate conditions, for which the forwarder is also responsible. All such services are provided at the expense of the consignor, and the forwarder himself must receive a certain remuneration, which is negotiated in advance.

Typically, a company that provides forwarding services does not have its own fleet of vehicles. Therefore, in the process of transportation, the necessary mobile capacities are ordered from specialized transport organizations.

The key feature of such a company lies precisely in the fact that the delivery of cargo from the initial point to the final one depends on it, therefore the responsibility assigned to the forwarder is very high. Carriers, on the contrary, are only responsible for that part of the route while the cargo is on their rolling stock.

If we talk about logistics chains, which are created to ensure efficient transportation, the role of the forwarder in this case will be especially valuable. It is he who develops the route, and also studies the technology that is best suited for delivery. It depends on how much the rolling stock will be filled with goods. As a result, the cost of the transportation itself becomes a very flexible indicator, which depends on the efficiency of the obligations fulfilled by the forwarder.

The organizer of transportation, as well as the manager of work with clients-cargo owners, the forwarder today is a highly demanded specialist. In his work, he can receive contractual discounts, which ultimately provides more attractive conditions for the cooperation of his clients.

According to statistics, it can be seen that forwarders today provide more than three quarters of the total volume of traffic between countries. Due to the fact that all important information is in the field of view of one specialist, this allows you to ensure a certain level of tonnage and optimal loading.

Forwarders distribute routes so that increase delivery speed, as well as to exclude overloading of the main highways. Skillful work can apply any kind of transport to achieve high efficiency and reduce shipping cost. They also work with ballast lines, which eliminates the occurrence of seasonal recessions. As a result, drivers are constantly on flights, and warehouses remain in normal boot mode without suffering from excess volume of goods.

The freight forwarder must carry out the transportation as described in the documents. Any services that he provides must be discussed in advance and noted in the document. Forwarder takes on himself those works that the cargo owner does not want or cannot perform. In particular, he charters rolling stock, and is also responsible for loading operations.

He has to deal with customs officers, ensuring the coordination of the process of transporting oversized items. Dangerous goods and other non-standard goods have to be sent subject to additional requirements, which must be known to the freight forwarder. Ultimately, it is he who provides control over the entire process.

This is an irreplaceable person who can perform work quickly and efficiently. Therefore, companies that operate in international markets do not actually have any doubts about whether it is necessary to use the services of a professional freight forwarder.

Who is a forwarder? What does the person in whose work book this position is indicated do? These questions are most often answered like this: "This is the one who delivers the goods." But it’s wrong, because the one who delivers the goods is either a driver or a courier. The duties of a freight forwarder are much more complex, and the powers are wider.

A real freight forwarder is a person who has a lot of both hidden and obvious talents. Just imagine how many responsibilities he has. The first, and the most important, is the organization of cargo delivery. And in order to fulfill such an order, you need to know all the legal documents well. Be able to perfectly understand all the nuances of international agreements and various conventions on transport. The basics of labor legislation and regulatory documents governing the rules of transportation are those documents without knowing which today it is hardly possible to deliver goods from point A to point B.

The essence of the forwarder's work is to provide a full package of services for the transportation of goods of any size and carrying capacity. This is probably why, when hiring, preference is given to those applicants who have knowledge of the basics of logistics and economics. Filling in a voluminous package of accompanying documents is also the responsibility of each forwarder, and their correctness directly depends on the legal literacy of a person. Finally, without knowledge of foreign languages ​​today it is impossible to apply for this position in a prestigious transport expedition.

So it turns out that a person who decides to become a freight forwarder must be a many-headed dragon. One head receives a higher economic education, the second studies languages, the third - jurisprudence. In addition, patience and perseverance are required. Without these qualities, thoughtful work with documents will not work.

The freight forwarder must lay the shortest route for the carriage of goods. He himself negotiates with transport companies. And these are aviation, automobile, sea and railway enterprises, with each you need to conclude an agreement on the freight of a vehicle. And there are customs on the route of the cargo. Each has its own rules, its own tariffs.

Take all this into account, draw the shortest route, determine the cost and choose the path that will cost the shipper cheaper, take into account all the difficulties ... And the warehouses where the goods may end up during transportation? And the safety, the guarantee of which is spelled out in the contract? All this is also the responsibility of the forwarder. Can you imagine how much he keeps in his head?!

Shippers today are distrustful people and do not believe in a word, therefore they constantly demand a report on the passage of the cargo. Thank you tech! Thanks to them, you can monitor your cargo online, and if it suddenly gets stuck somewhere, you can quickly find out from the forwarder what's wrong. Correcting the situation often requires the presence of this specialist, so the work of a freight forwarder is associated with constant business trips.

A very important question: “How much does such a specialist earn?” Differently. It all depends on the level of the organization in which you intend to work. The wider the geography, the more knowledge and skills you have, the higher the remuneration for work.

In a word, a freight forwarder is a very demanded profession. The scale, however, is different. The freight forwarder at the mill and the freight forwarder from the international shipping agency are basically doing the same thing. Only one travels around the region most often and only occasionally visits the neighboring one. But the second, most likely, does not get out of business trips abroad. Well, a big ship - a big voyage!

If the profession is in demand, then there must be educational institutions where you can get a basic education. But so far there are no such on the territory of Russia, and in neighboring states too. Freight forwarders are lawyers and economists, former military men and teachers. All, as one, self-taught. Sociable and smiling, responsible and thoughtful, they do a very necessary job.

By the way, the importance of this profession was recognized in antiquity. In historical documents of the 11th century, cargo escorts are mentioned, and since the 15th century, the Associations for Transportation officially begin to operate in Europe.

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